August 2001 A Case of Pediatric Plasma Cell Granuloma Nii Tetteh, Harvard Medical School Year IV
Our Patient 8 year old male with history of recurrent left lower lobe and lingular pneumonias since 1994. Chest X-ray in 1996 from outside hospital showed mass with calcifications at left lung base. 2
Chest X-Ray from Outside Hospital, 1996 PA View Lateral View Opacity Round opacity in left lower lung (LLL) field Silhouetting out of left hemi-diaphragm Likely anterior lingular mass +/- Calcifications at left lung base? Round pneumonia v Mass 3 (Images from Outside Hospital, curtesy of Dr. Eric Chiang)
Our Patient Patient was referred to Children s Hospital in June 1999 with fever, cough and dyspnea for further workup. 4
Chest X-rays Showing Acute Pneumonia PA View Lateral View Meniscus Increased opacity of left lung base Calcified mass within left lower lobe Associated left pleural effusion (moderate size) (Children s Hospital, Boston) 5
Clinical Course I CXR showed left base mass with central calcification, post-obstructive consolidation and pleural effusion. Labs showed Wbc 17, IgE 777 (normal 200). Patient treated with IV antibiotics and discharged. Acute pneumonia resolved. 6
Follow-up Chest X-rays PA View Lateral View Chest X-rays demonstrating resolving post-obstructive pneumonia. Decreased size of surrounding infiltrate and pleural effusion. Several amorphic calcific densities in left lower lung. Shift of heart and mediastinum into left thorax. Note improved size and appearance of left lower lung mass. (Children s Hospital, Boston) 7
Menu of tests for Workup of Lung Mass Chest X-ray percutaneous Chest CT +/- biopsy Bronchoscopy and open thoracotomy with biopsy of lung mass Pathological/Histological Characterization 8
Our Patient: Chest CT, 1999 Film Findings: Calcified mass in left lingula LLL collapse/ consolidation No evidence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy No liver or splenic lesions Remainder of exam was unremarkable Right Ventricle (RV) Left Ventricle (LV) Calcification (Irregular) Heterogeneous Soft- Tissue Mass (Children s Hospital, Boston) 9
Brief Differential MALIGNANT Primary Bronchogenic cancer Metastatic Cancer including:neuroblastoma, metastatic osteosarcoma Carcinoid, Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid carcinoma BENIGN Bronchial Adenoma Hamartoma Granuloma (Infectious v Inflammatory) Teratoma 10
Lung Biopsy was performed Chest X-ray S/P Lung Biopsy Portable AP View, S/P Open Thoracotomy in June 1999. Calcified mass in left lung base. Subcutaneous emphysema in left lateral chest wall. No pneumothorax. Right lung, heart, mediastinum otherwise unremarkable. (Children s Hospital, Boston) Subcutaneous emphysema Calcification in mass 11
Biopsy Findings Multiple biopsies of lung were taken. Frozen section demonstrated a Plasma cell granuloma: Benign inflammatory and spindle cell lesion Also known as fibrous histiocytoma, fibrous xanthoma, xanthogranuloma, xanthofibroma, and postinflammmatory pseudotumor This was confirmed by more detailed pathological evaluation Special stains for bacteria, fungi, acid-fast bacilli and Epstein-Barr Virus were all negative Histology Plasma cells, lymphocytes, histiocytes and spindle cells in a fibrous or vascular stroma 12 (www.afip.org/departments/pulmonary/95_1/case8/cas83.jpg)
Plasma Cell Granuloma Highlights Most common benign lung neoplasm in children Unknown etiology-? Inflammatory origin Children older than 5 years on presentation Nonspecific Respiratory Symptoms Labs usually normal Well-demarcated, solid tumor Variable Size Calcification in 15-25% of cases Does not appear to metastasize 13
Plasma Cell Granuloma Radiographic Presentation Localizing density on chest radiographs Solitary, peripheral, wellmarginated mass Anatomic preference for lower lobes Extraparenchymal extension unusual but important manifestation If mediastinum is involved and the mass is calcified, it may stimulate other tumors Heterogeneous attenuation Variable contrast enhancement Variable calcification (dense to subtle) 14 (Children s Hospital, Boston)
Clinical Course II He was started on oral steroids (prednisone 40mg PO qd) to decrease mass size prior to future resection (based on case reports in literature). Surgical resection of mass was carried out in August 2000. 15
Post-Op Chest X-Ray, Nov. 2000 S/P Left Pneumonectomy Mediastinum shifted far to the left Hyperinflation of right lung (Children s Hospital, Boston) 16
Post-Op Chest CT: Mediastinal Window S/PL pneumonectomy Shift of heart and mediastinum to the left RV LV (Children s Hospital, Boston) 17
Post-Op Chest CT: Lung Window Left lung is absent. Right lung is clear. Right lung is hyperinflated and extends to left thorax No pulmonary metastases seen. Bone windows were unremarkable. No evidence of recurrence. (Children s Hospital, Boston) 18
References Agrons GA et al. Pulmonary inflammatory pseuodotumor: radiology features. Radiology 1998; 206:511-5618. Caffey s, 9th edition, pp 624-625. Hedlund GL et al. Aggressive manifestations of inflammatory pulmonary pseudotumor in children. Pediatr Radiol 1999; 29:112-116. Kaufman RA. Calcified postinflammatory pseudotumor of the lung: CT features. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1988; 12:653-655. Laufer et al. Pulmonary plasma cell granuloma. Pediatr Radiol 1990; 20: 289-290. Pearl M. Postinflammatory pseudotumor of the lung in children. Radiology 1972; 105:391-395. Schartz EE et al., Postinflammatory pseudotumors of the lung: fibrous histiocytoma and related lesions. Radiology 1980; 136:609-613. http://www.afip.org/departments/pulmonary/95_1/case8/cas83.jpg (last accessed 9/17/01). 19
Acknowledgements Special thanks to Eric Chiang, M.D. Stephen Poole, M.D. Larry Barbaras and Cara Lyn D amour our webmasters Pamela Lepkowski for help with digital image processing Dr. Gillian Lieberman 20